Medication recording device

ABSTRACT

A device and method for recording medication to be introduced into a body.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is related to and claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C.120 of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/902,452, filed on May 24, 2013,which will issue on Jun. 3, 2014, as U.S. Pat. No. 8,740,077, which is acontinuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/941,959, filed on Nov. 18,2007, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,448,846, the entire contents of which isincorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

In today's society, a large percentage of the human and animalpopulation depend on medication for a variety of reasons. Medication maybe delivered in a variety of ways, such as, in bottles, blister packs,daily dose packs, nasal mists, inhalers, eye drops, injections and/or intransdermal patches. These different collections of medications may bereceived from a pharmacy, over the internet or even over the counter.Many medications require a prescription, however, many medications areavailable over-the-counter without a prescription.

Those who regularly take or administer medication often create systemsto remind themselves of when to administer a dose of medication eitherto themselves, a pet or someone in their care. For many people, memoryaids help keep track of dosing such as, for instance; seven daymedication reminder boxes that record the time the pill was removed fromthe box, blister packs that record the time the pill was removed fromthe package and/or medication reminding systems that perform timer oralarm functions issuing reminders when it is time for a person to takeor administer a medication.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a particular embodiment of amedication recording device.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a particular embodiment of amedication recording method.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are setforth in order to provide a thorough understanding of claimed subjectmatter. However, it will be understood by those skilled in the art thatclaimed subject matter may be practiced without these specific details.In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, and components havenot been described in detail so as not to obscure claimed subjectmatter.

The term ‘medication’ is used throughout the following disclosure and isintended to refer to any substance used for treatment, control and/orprevention of any human or animal condition, such as, for instance;prevention of disease and/or injury, healing or control of diseaseand/or injury and/or controlling pain, and claimed subject matter is notlimited in this regard. The phrase ‘introduced into the body’ is usedthroughout the following disclosure and is intended to refer to deliveryof medication into a human or animal body by any of a number of routes,such as for instance; orally, intravenously, intramuscularly,intrathecally, subcutaneously, sublingually, ocularly, nasally,inhalation, cutaneously, and/or transdermally and claimed subject matteris not limited in this regard. The term ‘contraindication’ is usedthroughout the following disclosure and is intended to mean one or morefactors that render the administration of a medication or the carryingout of a medical procedure inadvisable.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a particular embodiment of medicationrecording device 100. In a particular embodiment, medication recordingdevice 100 may comprise imaging device 102 capable of capturing an imageof medication 104 to be introduced into a human or animal body andconverting the image to image data for medication identification. Suchimage data for medication identification may comprise data capable ofenabling identification of medication. Identification may be bycomparison of converted image data with data in a medicationidentification database. Such converted image data may comprise anycompatible format for comparison with medication identification databasedata, such as, a cropped version of the image captured, characterstring, outline coordinates, color coordinates, bar code data, characterdata and/or a predetermined image file format.

In a particular embodiment, medication 104 may be held in a hand 106 ofa user when imaging device 102 is capturing the image or medication 104may stand alone when imaging device 102 captures the image. In aparticular embodiment, when a user is about to take, apply and/oradminister a medication, the user may hold medication 104 in their openhand, in front of imaging device 102 and capture an image of medication104. Activating imaging device 102 to capture an image may be done by avariety of methods, such as; by depressing an activating button,touching a touch screen, activating a motion detector, issuing voicecommands, and/or through video processing to detect when a hand ispoised for image capture and claimed subject matter is not so limited.

According to a particular embodiment, medication 104 may comprise any ofa variety of forms, such as, for instance, pills, liquids, mists,inhalants, drops and/or transdermal patches. In a particular embodiment,a user may capture an image of medication 104 in any form, for instance,in liquid or pill form, liquid in an applicator, an inhaler, package,transdermal patch and/or medication bottle. According to a particularembodiment, various medication forms may have markings, colors, sizes,bar codes and/or other characteristics that may serve as identifiersthat may enable human recognition or identification of medication 104from the image. However, these are merely examples of forms andidentifiers a medication may comprise and claimed subject matter is notso limited.

In a particular embodiment, imaging device 102 may comprise any of avariety of devices capable of capturing an image, such as, a traditionalcamera, a digital camera, an infrared camera, a copier, and/or scannerand claimed subject matter is not limited in this regard. In aparticular embodiment, time stamp unit 108 may be coupled to imagingdevice 102 and may generate a time stamp. According to a particularembodiment, an image of medication 104 may be associated with a timestamp. In a particular embodiment, processor 114 may associate a timestamp with an image or image data generated by imaging device 102. Inanother embodiment time stamp unit 108 may associate a time stamp withan image of medication 104. According to a particular embodiment, timestamp unit 108 may be coupled to imaging device 102 and processor 114.According to a particular embodiment, an image or image data ofmedication 104 and the associated time stamp may be stored innon-volatile memory unit 110 which may provide a record of whatmedications a user has administered, taken, applied or otherwiseingested and when those mediations were administered, taken, applied orotherwise ingested. Such a record may be useful in maintaining amedicinal regimen for humans and/or animals and claimed subject matteris not limited in this regard. In a particular embodiment, such a recordmay be used by medical personnel or caregivers to enable accurate recordkeeping of another's medicinal regimen. In a particular embodiment, arecord may be reviewed by one's prescriber to either reinforce theinstructions to the patient or to adjust the prescription. In the eventof an emergency such a record may be valuable diagnostic tool foremergency worker and other medical personnel.

In a particular embodiment, medication recording device 100 may becapable of identifying medication 104. In a particular embodiment,processor 114 may be capable of accessing medication identificationdatabase 112. Medication identification database 112 may comprisemedication identification parameters. In a particular embodiment,processor 114 may be capable of identifying medication 104 based atleast in part on comparing medication identification parameters with theimage data of the medication 104 image. According to a particularembodiment, user interface 116 may be coupled to processor 114 and maybe capable of communicating a message related to identification of themedication. In a particular embodiment, user interface 116 may comprisea variety of interfaces, such as, for instance; a digital display, anaudio output, physical output, tactile output and/or other sensoryoutput and claimed subject matter is not limited in this regard. Userinterface 116 may display a message describing medication 104, forinstance, by digital display, audio output and/or tactile readout (suchas brail). In another embodiment, user interface 116 may simply issue atone, alarm and/or vibration to indicate that medication 104 has or hasnot been identified.

In a particular embodiment, medication recording device 100 may becapable of verifying that a user is about to take, use, apply and/oradminister an approved medication in keeping with a recommendedmedication regimen. In a particular embodiment, processor 114 may becapable of accessing recommended medication regimen database 118.Recommended medication regimen database 118 may comprise recommendedmedication regimen parameters. Such parameters may comprise, kind ofmedication and timing parameters. An increasing number of chronicconditions require the doctor to frequently adjust the patient'sdosages, sometimes giving verbal instructions instead of writing a newprescription (e.g., “take your blood pressure pill once every other daynow instead of every day”), increasing the chances of amedication-taking error. Medication regimen database 118 may beaccessible to medical advising personnel such that when adjustments to amedication regimen are made they may be entered into Medication regimendatabase 118 thereby reinforcing the new instructions and reducingmedication-taking error.

In a particular embodiment, processor 114 may be capable of verifyingthat the person is about to take, use, apply and/or administer anapproved medication in keeping with a recommended medication regimenbased at least in part on comparing recommended medication regimenparameters with identified medication 104 and time stamp data ofmedication 104 image. According to a particular embodiment, userinterface 116 may be coupled to processor 114 and may be capable ofcommunicating a message related to verification of conformance torecommended medication regimen. User interface 116 may communicate sucha verification message by digital display, audio output and/or tactilereadout (such as brail). For example, user interface 116 may say “it'snot time yet to take the yellow pills” or “Remember, your doctor toldyou to only take one of the red pills now.” In another embodiment, userinterface 116 may simply issue a tone, alarm and/or vibration toindicate that medication 104 is or is not in compliance with arecommended medication regimen.

In a particular embodiment, medication recording device 100 may becapable of determining whether a user is about to take, use, applyand/or administer a contraindicated medication. In a particularembodiment, processor 114 may be capable of accessing medicationcontraindication database 120. Medication contraindication database 120may comprise medication contraindication parameters. Such parameters maycomprise medication parameters, timing parameters and/or behavioralparameters. In a particular embodiment, a user may be able to inputinformation related to a variety of behavioral variables such as, forinstance, whether the individual who is to be administered medication104 has eaten, exercised, will be driving or has ingested any alcoholicbeverage and claimed subject matter is not so limited. According to aparticular embodiment, medication recording device 100 may be capable ofreceiving behavioral variable data from a variety of sources such asphysical input by a user, communication from a diagnostic instrumentsuch as blood sugar gages, blood pressure and heart rate monitors and/orbreath analyzers and claimed subject matter is not limited in thisrespect. In a particular embodiment, processor 114 may be capable ofdetermining that the person is about to take, use, apply and/oradminister a contraindicated medication based at least in part oncomparing medication contraindication parameters with identifiedmedication 104, time stamp data of medication 104 image and/or anybehavioral data.

According to a particular embodiment, user interface 116 may be coupledto processor 114 and may be capable of communicating a message relatedto whether medication 104 is contraindicated. User interface 116 maycommunicate such a contraindication message by digital display, audiooutput and/or tactile readout (such as brail). For example, userinterface 116 may say, “Because you are taking a cold remedy right now,you shouldn't take the blue pill.” In another embodiment, user interface116 may simply issue a tone, alarm and/or vibration to indicate thatmedication 104 is or is not contraindicated.

In a particular embodiment, medication recording device 100 may includehand recognition software capable of identifying the individual whosehand appears in the image, in order to infer whether the patient or oneof their caregivers are administering medication 104. In a particularembodiment, medication recording device 100 may be implemented in a cellphone comprising a high-resolution camera, speaker, microphone, andnetwork connectivity to provide a mobile medication-taking record.According to a particular embodiment, each time the person is about totake a pill, they hold the pill in front of their cell phone camera andtake a picture.

In a particular embodiment, medication recording device 100 may comprisetransmitter 122 which may be capable of wirelessly transmittingmedication information received from processor 114. In a particularembodiment, processor 114 may be capable of converting medicationinformation into data suitable for wireless transmission. In aparticular embodiment, transmitter 122 may communicate medicationinformation to a variety of receiving stations such as, for instance, arouter connected to the Internet, a wireless receiver connected to amedic alert system and/or a local or on-site receiver capable ofcommunicating medication information to caregivers such as in anassisted care facility and claimed subject matter is not limited in thisregard. According to a particular embodiment, transmitter 122 maycommunicate a variety of medication related messages such as, simplyidentifying medication, indicating whether a person is following amedication regimen and/or identify medication contraindications andclaimed and claimed subject matter is not limited in this regard.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a particular embodiment ofmedication recording process 200. In a particular embodiment, at block202 an image of a medication to be introduced into a body may becaptured and converted to image data. At block 204 the image data may betime stamped and stored. Process 200 may flow to block 206 wherein amedication identification database may be accessed. At block 208, themedication may be identified and a message generated regarding themedication identification. Process 200 may flow to block 210 wherein arecommended medication regimen database may be accessed. At block 212,it may be determined whether the medication to be introduced into thebody is in compliance with the recommended medication regimen and amessage may be generated regarding compliance with the recommendedmedication regimen. Process 200 may flow to block 214 wherein amedication contraindication database may be accessed. At block 216, itmay be determined whether the medication to be introduced into the bodyis contraindicated and a message may be generated regarding medicationcontraindications.

While certain features of claimed subject matter have been illustratedas described herein, many modifications, substitutions, changes andequivalents will now occur to those skilled in the art. It is,therefore, to be understood that the appended claims are intended tocover all such embodiments and changes as fall within the spirit ofclaimed subject matter.

The invention claimed is:
 1. An apparatus, comprising: an imaging device configured to generate an image of a medication to be introduced into a body and a hand holding the medication; and one or more processors configured to determine identification of a person whose hand appears in the image of the medication and the hand.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the imaging device is a camera of a mobile device.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a timestamp unit configured to generate a timestamp indicating a date and time at which the image of the medication and the hand was generated by the imaging device.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are configured to identify the person whose hand appears in the image of the medication and the hand based on hand recognition.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to determine identification of the medication based on a comparison of the image of the medication with a medication identification parameter.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to determine whether the identified medication is intended for the identified person.
 7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein a medication identification parameters comprises a characteristic related to the medication including one or more of markings, characters, shapes, colors, sizes, and bar codes related to the medication.
 8. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to communicate, via a user interface, a message related to identification of the medication.
 9. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to: receive a user input; and determine whether the identified medication is contraindicated based on the user input.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the user input comprises a behavioral parameter related to an activity including.
 11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein determining whether the identified medication is contraindicated based on the user input comprises: comparing one or more contraindicated medication parameters with the user input, wherein the one or more contraindicated medication parameters comprise one or more of a behavioral parameter, a medication parameter, and a timing parameter; and determining whether the activity of the user input matches with one or more of the activities of the behavioral parameter.
 12. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising: a diagnostic instrument configured to generate information related to physical states of the identified person, the diagnostic instrument comprising one or more of a blood sugar gauge, a blood pressure monitor, a heart rate monitor, and a breath analyzer, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to determine whether the identified medication is contraindicated based on the information related to the physical states of the identified person.
 13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to access medication identification database comprising medication identification parameters.
 14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to access a recommended medication regimen database.
 15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein recommended medication regimen database comprises recommended medication regimen parameters including kind of medication and timing parameters.
 16. A machine-implemented method comprising: obtaining, by an imaging device, an image of a medication to be introduced into a body and a hand holding the medication; determining, by one or more processors, identification of a person whose hand appears in the image of the medication and the hand; and determining, by the one or more processors, identification of the medication based on a comparison of the image of the medication with medication identification data, the medication identification data comprising one or more characteristics related to medications.
 17. The machine-implemented method of claim 16, wherein determining the identification of the person whose hand appears in the image of the medication and the hand is based on hand recognition.
 18. The machine-implemented method of claim 16, communicating, via a user interface, a message related to identification of the medication.
 19. The machine-implemented method of claim 16, further comprising: generating, by a diagnostic instrument, information related to physical states of the identified person, the diagnostic instrument comprising one or more of a blood sugar gauge, a blood pressure monitor, a heart rate monitor, and a breath analyzer; and determining, by the one or more processors, whether the identified medication is contraindicated based on the information related to the physical states of the identified person.
 20. The machine-implemented method of claim 16, further comprising generating a timestamp indicating a date and time at which the image of the medication and the hand was generated by the imaging device.
 21. The machine-implemented method of claim 16, further comprising: receiving, by the one or more processors, a user input; and determining, by the one or more processors, whether the identified medication is contraindicated based on the user input. 